[emily445455]

I was sooooo upset yesterday!!! Hubby, Belle (1 yr old labrador), Penny (2 month old labrador) and I all went over to my family's house like we do most every other Sunday afternoon.

During the course of our visit, our dogs started playing and I jokingly said to my hubby "hey can you keep an eye on our daughters?". Oh boy, big mistake! Then Penny (the puppy) went in the area of the house where I didn't want her (lots of papers and stuff on the floor), so I went over and tried to get her to follow me, when she didn't I just scooped her up and carried her back into the family room....kissing her a few times along the way, she will only weigh 18 lbs for so long, I won't be able to pick her up and cuddler her and kiss her forever! Bigger mistake!

My sister, who is 16 and was being extra special friendly and nice that day must have called me a freak about 20 times. She accused me of treating my dogs like my children and informing me that they are, in fact, not children (dur...) and I should not pick them up and kiss them and talk to them like children.

EXCUSE ME!!! I love my dogs thank-you-very-much and try my best to be a good dog mommy (like I will try my best to be a good human mommy when hubby and I start to have children). Plus, I DO NOT, treat my dogs like children, I think I said something like "when I start taking my future kids outside to go potty, then we can talk". I was trying to make it into a joke, because I do not like confrontation with my family.

She continued to just call me a freak and inform me that dogs are not humans. Well thanks for that news flash.

THEN, to make things worse...later I asked my mom if she thought I was a freak for loving my dogs like children. She was silent for awhile and said "I used to feel that way about Sugar (one of her cats), then I had you." ARGH!!!! Her cat, I have a feeling, was an outdoors cat who just came home to eat.

I will never, ever love my dogs any less. They hold a very special spot in my heart that can never be replaced.

This really upset me, obviously... I don't think we will be bringing our dogs over to their house anymore, which is a real bummer for Penny, because she is going to miss out on the socialization that Belle received.

On the flip side, however...I really can't let this bother me too much. Hubby and I are going to try to have children in the next year or so, and I don't even want to think about all the crap I am going to get from my family about how we raise our children. My parents basically let their kids get away with murder...I plan on being very strict (not overly so: but not letting them get away with stuff, no talking back, doing chores around the house, etc). So...I can look foward to listening to more grief from my mom and sister about how to raise them.

Sigh, I feel a little better now...but I am still very upset...more angry than sad sigh....

 

[Inga]

Well for me personally, I wouldn't stop bringing my dogs along. I mean, they didn't ask you to not bring them along. I would keep acting as I do with my dogs. Keep it up long enough and maybe they will just learn to understand how much your dogs mean to you. When you have human children and your dogs along you can show them that the dogs truly do mean the world to you as well. I know a lot of families that started like that and then once they had kids they just referred to their dogs as the "first born" lol

Some people just do not understand. Don't worry most of us here do, so you are not alone.

 

[rosborn]

Your not alone on all that ... my 12yr old lab/collie mix and my 10 week old lab gets tones of hugs and kisses!!! and are both lap dogs!!!

I have put off going to my mother in laws house a few times because she would be 'not in the mood' to deal with dogs!!! ummm, she is not the one who deals with them I do!!! LOL

anyways ~ people think im a bit strange cuz i celebrate my dogs birthdays as well !!!!

I have even went as far as sending invintations to my moms dogs to celebrate the b-day

 

[pamperedpups]

What I want to know is, what's wrong with treating your dogs "like children?" Benevolent leadership? Boundaries? Respect? Hugs? Kisses? Snuggling? Nutritional diet? Treats? Exercise? Play? Training? Activities? Socialization?

 

[emily445455]

Thank you so much Inga and Rosborn.

What I want to know is, what's wrong with treating your dogs "like children?" Benevolent leadership? Boundaries? Respect? Hugs? Kisses? Snuggling? Nutritional diet? Treats? Exercise? Play? Training? Activities? Socialization?

I agree, all those things should be included in a dogs life...but children are different IMO. For instance, I won't leave my children at home in a crate while I go to the grocery store, lol.

 

[HyperFerret]

Nope, you're not alone. I talk about all my babies (dogs, cats, ferret, bird) as my babies. And the hugs and kisses - yeah! I'm told all the time how I refer to them (often in a degree of disgust) ... mainly by work peoples and friends, not so much by immediate family peoples. And then of course the subject of human children come up after that. (Which I am sooo far from especially at the rate I'm going ) First they tell me that I'm still single due to the animals. (Not the only reason they tell me I'm single either. I have high standards) Then they tell me that I'll have to get rid of all of my animals should I decide to have a baby. They are all very shocked and react not so kindly when they find out I've left a guy over the animals or that I plan on never giving up my animals if I should have a baby. (Unless of course the baby ends up being allergic - then I would re-home my animals ... to Mom's house! ) Lol, I wonder what she would think about that.

Most of that comes from work peoples but I do get a little from some friends. Out of immediate family, only my younger sister gives me lip about the animals. And she grew up with most of them?!!! (I blame most of her change on her husband and Mother-in-law.) Because of my animals, my sister and my nephews are "not allowed" to my house due to her husband and Mother-in-law. At first that bothered me a LOT. But I got over it.

If she didn't restrict the dogs then I would defiantly still take them along. I think it's awesome how you are with your babies. I also think it's awesome how you and your hubby feel the same about them.

 

[midnight mojo]

When people don't agree with how I treat Mojo I let them know when they are paying my bills I'll take their opinions into consideration.

 

[terryjeanne]

I talk to my dog like she's human all the time Sometimes when I get home from work, I greet her and ask her how her day was, lol. DS just rolls his eyes at me and shakes his head in mock disgust

 

[Sonn84]

I treat my dogs like children lol. My family makes fun of me my friends make fun of me and strangers look at me like I have 2 heads. But I keep on doing what I do best lovin my babies.

When my dog Haven was a bigger puppy I actually taught him to sit on my hip like a baby and let me carry him around. You should have seen my family's face! And when family comes to visit they think I am 'disgusting' because I let all of my dogs pile up on top of me when I sit in a chair lol.

I say do what you do people will eventually get over it not like you have committed some horrendous crime if you do in fact treat your dogs like furkids.

 

[rogueslg71]

A lot of people look at me like I'm crazy with the way I treat and care for my dog too. But I found that eventually they just understood and also began to love my little 'baby' too. I called her my baby and at first my mom said that didn't make sense. but now shes the one referring to herself as grandma of my dog! I got a bookmark from barnes and noble that says "those who love me love my dog.". hopefully your family will come around and understand one day soon =)

 

[HyperFerret]

When my dog Haven was a bigger puppy I actually taught him to sit on my hip like a baby and let me carry him around.

Most of my dogs are too big for that but I do that with one of my smaller dogs and with all of my cats.

 

[pamperedpups]

LOL I forgot to mention talking to your dogs.

Thank you so much Inga and Rosborn.



I agree, all those things should be included in a dogs life...but children are different IMO. For instance, I won't leave my children at home in a crate while I go to the grocery store, lol.

The difference is still not all that significant, in my opinion. What you're talking about comes down to appropriate freedoms given based upon things like your comfort level and experience, as well as your child's or pet's age, training and level of responsiblity. Taking your for instance a bit further, you wouldn't leave a baby at home alone while you run to the grocery store, but you might leave your 14 year old, in the same way that you probably wouldn't leave your puppy loose in a house unattended while you went to the grocery store, but you might leave your trained, more mature dog loose. As for the differences you mentioned earlier in where a child and dog are trained to potty, where do you suppose people went before indoor plumbing and outhouses?


In response to all of the posters who have other people telling them they'll have to give up their animals to be in a relationship or start a family; ya right!

 

[FilleBelle]

Here's the thing...people are overly opinionated. You have no idea how many times a week I get asked when I'm getting married or if I plan on having children, as though those things were anyone's business but my own. Come up with a snazzy comeback and don't let other people's opinions stop you from doing what you're doing.

 

[Equinox]

I don't really see it as "treating your dogs like children". I just see it as treating your dogs with affection and love, and that children and SOs are also treated with affection.

For me, though, I most definitely do NOT treat dogs like I treat kids. I coo and make silly stupid inane noises and give dogs loving pats and hugs. When I see a kid, I walk the other way and avoid him/her at all costs. Needless to say, I don't like kids.

Anyway, sorry you had a not-so-great time with your family -hugs-

 

[Mdawn]

I don't like confrontation either, so much so, that I'm often stuck as "mediator" in family arguments; I want everyone to get along...all the time...lol But I don't hesitate to stand up for myself and because of that people often watch what they say to me. If they say something hurtful, I don't yell at them, scream at them, or anything like that, I don't even talk snarky to them, I just POLITELY tell them that they have hurt me and the reasons why they have hurt me. You'd be surprised how bad and remorseful that makes people feel. People don't like having their bad deeds thrown back in their faces. I wouldn't stop bringing your dogs over to their house if they are welcome there. Penny could use the socialization and shouldn't miss out on it because of some petty, immature remarks. Keep taking them over there and keep acting like you normally do with your dogs. It's none of your sister's concern how you treat them.

 

[JustTess]

You could always ask your sister to "Please don't speak about my dogs infront of them. If you have something important to tell me, please do it in private so we don't damage their self esteem."

I would act normally too. It still annoys me when my childless younger sister gives me parenting advice.

As far as treating my dogs like children, both my boys will claim I love them more. (I tell them they are both happy to see me while my boys scream... Quick, pick up the mess! Mom's home.)

 

[ThoseWordsAtBest]

Non-dog people never get it. I carry my doxie around and refer to him as my little man and carry out conversations/sing songs about him to him. He also walks perfectly on a leash, knows basic commands, is house trained, fully vetted, eats a well balanced diet, and is loved, same with my other two dogs. If that's treating him like a child, I don't want to know what kind of home your sister thinks he should be in.

 

[rosemaryninja]

My uncle doesn't believe in pets. He says they "serve no purpose." When I told him that they provide wonderful companionship, he replied "I have Peena for that." (Peena is his wife.)

Quite honestly, I don't care that much. It doesn't make me love my dogs any less, and it doesn't make my dogs love me any less. I think anyone who sees the way my dogs and I interact with each other can quickly discern why I treat them the way I do.

 

[deege39]

What I hate to see more isn't someone who loves their dogs, but someone who can't understand why we do!

 

[nikelodeon79]

LOL, if you're crazy, my husband and I are certifiably insane!

We refer to ourselves as "mom & dad" to Luna, our puppy. We even ask her questions and pretend like she's responding in a little Luna voice. We do the same with the cats. LOL!!!

My family likes dogs... my brother & sis-in-law had a Christmas card made with the two of them and their "kids" (the horse, cat & dog). This year, they had a baby and still included the dog on them (it was extremely difficult to get the pic with the horse & cat included, so they decided not to go through it again this year, LOL). My sis-in-law even gives gifts from her animals to my animals at Christmas time.

But... they still don't understand me completely. They don't understand why I'm worrying so much about diet (considering switching to raw... THAT'S not going over well with the fam), vaccinations (*shrugs from the fam* why not just listen to the vet and vaccinate every year?), and especially the fact that I want to bring my dog everywhere with me. She _is_ my baby... and I don't want to leave her home or in a kennel! They don't understand why my hubby and I are planning on putting up a 6 foot fence around our entire property (5 acres) just so we can play with Luna in a secure area. They don't understand why we buy cheap food for ourselves so we can afford expensive kibble for Luna... or why we will only go to the doctor if we feel we're on our deathbed, yet rush Luna to the vet for just about anything. Heck, I don't even understand it, LOL!